Saints Row took established mechanics and features from GTA, but also introduced ideas that became mainstays of the genre.

While some prefer the next entry into the series, Saints Row 2 is, in my opinion, the most well-rounded game in the franchise. Going All Out As the future Boss, with Neenah, Kevin, and Eli by your side, you’ll form The Saints – and take on Los Panteros, The Idols, and Marshall as you build your empire across the streets of Santo Ileso and battle for control of the city. Ultimately Saints Row is the story of a start-up company, it’s just that the business The Saints are in happens to be crime. The Vice Kings, Los Carnales and Westside Rollerz are now The Brotherhood, The Ronin, and the Sons of Samedi. With control of multiple cities and worldwide acclaim, it was hard to see where things could go with 2013’s Saints Row 4. The easiest way to describe it is off the rails.Both vehicles and weapons are highly customisable, and the majority appear to have a whole host of upgrade options. Add to the firepower of a gun with different types of ammo, or equip a scope to improve accuracy. Or do both, if the price is right. So, I can say with confidence that the technical aspect of Saints Row is now solid. It runs perfectly and the long list of major and minor bugs is resolved. On 17th November 2021, Saints Row was delayed from its original release date of February 25, 2022 to August 23, 2022. [6] [7]

As for the storyline, while creative, it wasn’t as immersive as previous entries to the series. It seemed a realistic setting with some outlandish weapons and vehicles felt more relatable to players than a jaunt into space. Saints Row The Third received criticism for trying to do TOO much all at once, but overall it reviewed well. The likes of Johnny Gat (the only returning member of The Saints) and Shaundi became series mainstays. As did comedy weapon types and side-missions like ‘insurance scams’ and ‘destruction’. Up until the release of GTA 3 the series had looked quite different. An overhead view, clunky mechanics, and a distinctive but unimpressive look had been a staple of the series to that point.The fourth instalment sees ‘Playa’ save the world from nuclear annihilation in the first few minutes. As a result, they find themselves elected President of the United States. Many missions and side-quests were way over the top too. None more so than Professor Genki’s Super Ethical Reality Climax, which puts the player in a death-maze of traps and enemies. It was then down to them to wipe everyone out and escape, all for the entertainment of the masses watching on. GTA 3 changed the game by dropping the player into a fully 3D open world where they could do practically anything they wanted. Unless they wanted to swim, fly an aeroplane, or drive a boat that is; those features were still a little way off. Ultor is a corporation who have spent millions to redevelop the city. Again, another great in-game explanation for the improvements. Obviously though, being a huge corporation… they are also corrupt. That clearly wasn’t crazy enough though. During the president’s first press conference aliens invade and kidnap The Saints, putting them in a simulation of Steelport.

Since its difficult beginnings, Saints Row has been well supported by the development team with continuous development and bug fixes. The formula of the first three games makes a return. Take down rival gangs, take part in some side missions, or explore the sprawling landscape of Santo Ileso. There is now a ‘respect’ system to give more meaning to side-missions and activities. But the most noticeable change is how much bigger Stillwater is. They explain this with another big change; Ultor. The year is 2003 and one of the biggest console games on the market is Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, a follow up to the critically successful Grand Theft Auto 3. The departure from the franchise’s earlier style drew criticism. The game’s developers aimed for a fresh start by introducing a new city, characters, and storylines, but long-time fans felt that it strayed too far from the elements that made the series popular in the first place. As a result, the reception was polarising, with some players enjoying the new direction while others lamented the loss of the franchise’s signature charm and humour.Unprecedented Customization – Create the Boss of your dreams, with the most extensive character customization suite ever seen in the series, then complete the look with incredible options for weapons and vehicles. Saints Row is the ninth released installment in the series, including the mobile ports of Saints Row and Saints Row 2. Bugs were another significant issue at launch. Players reported game crashes, forcing them to restart their consoles or lose progress. Others encountered AI inconsistencies, with non-playable characters (NPCs) acting erratically or not responding as expected, making missions and interactions less immersive. Sure, it’s formulaic, but working to the philosophy ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ allowed the developers to go all-in with the other aspects of the game. Want to shoot someone with a Foam Finger? Hit someone with a football that shoots them into the sky and blows them up? Shove a grenade into someone’s mouth and throw them at another enemy? You can do all of that and more, and that’s sure to be the tip of the iceberg.